Chaos ensued in the lead up to the third one-day international between England and the West Indies, with London traffic delaying the toss by over half an hour.
Mets call up Ronny Mauricio, slated to start Tuesday against Dodgers
The Mets called up infielder Ronny Mauricio ahead of Tuesday's game against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. His season debut with the big league club will also come immediately, as he's slated to bat seventh and play third base with veteran lefty Clayton Kershaw on the mound.
Mauricio has rejoined the active roster as the replacement for Mark Vientos, who suffered a right hamstring strain in Monday's extra-inning win and was placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday.
The numbers the toolsy Mauricio put up while with Triple-A Syracuse this season were outrageous. In 39 plate appearances over nine games, he slashed .515/.564/.818 with three home runs, one double, four stolen bases, and eight RBI.
Mauricio's game action a few weeks ago with Single-A St. Lucie was his first time back on the field in a competitive fashion in roughly a year and a half, since undergoing ACL surgery. The Mets had been taking things slowly with him as he built up his reps and stamina.
He had been playing in back-to-back games and recently played three games in four days, but has not yet played three games in a row since returning.
"It's a long process... You learn a lot. I'm a better person, a better player," Mauricio said ahead of Tuesday's game. "The fact I've already played in the minor leagues, had success in the minor leagues, I think that's why I was able to have the success when I went back..."
With the 24-year-old Mauricio up, it would be a bit of a surprise if he isn't given regular playing time out of the gate. Before Tuesday's game, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that the plan is for Mauricio to see time at second base, third base, and designated hitter. His natural position is shortstop, but the path there is obviously blocked by Francisco Lindor.
"He's going to get a lot of opportunities here, but we'll continue to watch him closely," said Mendoza, who's never seen Mauricio play live. "He's going to play, understanding he's coming off a major injury. Obviously, the reports are he's moving well. He's doing everything he was doing before he got hurt. I'm excited to watch him...
"I know there's high expectations. We don't want him to be the savior. Play your game, don't try to do too much. Just have fun. He's still young. Missed a whole year of development last year... We know there's skills there. But we have to be patient with him... It was a long process for him. Really took the time... Very talented player, and not surprised by the success he was having in very few at-bats in the minor leagues."
Mauricio, who flashed high exit velocities and his tantalizing athleticism during his first taste of the majors in 2023, will bring a different dynamic to a Mets team that remains in need of a bit of a jolt offensively.
"I'm feeling great. I'm feeling like I'm the same person I was before my surgery," Mauricio said. "I tried to work every day on the same thing I do to be consistent... I think I'm the same hitter. I think the biggest difference is now I have more experience, more knowledge of the game. All of that helps me when I go onto the field... I'm happy that I'm here and happy to help the team in any way."
In his 26-game stint with the Mets two seasons ago, Mauricio slashed .248/.296/.347 with four doubles, two home runs, seven stolen bases, and nine RBI across 108 plate appearances.
NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looking to join Hall of Fame company in 2025 Finals
NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looking to join Hall of Fame company in 2025 Finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has already taken home the NBA’s highest individual honor this season. Now, he’s four wins away from earning the league’s most coveted team prize.
The Thunder point guard has his team on the verge of its first championship since relocating to Oklahoma City and the franchise’s first since winning it all as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1978-79. To get there, the top-seeded Thunder will need to defeat the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals, which begin Thursday in OKC.
Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA MVP for the 2024-25 season after leading the league in scoring (32.7 points per game) and guiding the Thunder to an NBA-best and franchise-best 68-14 regular season record. While being named MVP is an impressive feat, it doesn’t always lead to team success.
It’s been a decade since the regular season MVP has gone on to win an NBA championship. Only a select group of all-time greats have ever pulled it off, and Gilgeous-Alexander is on the verge of stepping into that Hall of Fame company.
Here’s a look back at all the regular season MVPs who went on to win an NBA championship, as well as those who also collected NBA Finals MVP honors.
Players to win NBA Finals and be named MVP in the same season
Fourteen players in NBA history have won a championship and been named league MVP in the same season.
Bob Cousy of the Boston Celtics was the first to do it back in 1956-57. Fellow Celtics legend Bill Russell followed suit in 1960-61 and went on to do it a grand total of four times. Only Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan has matched Russell when it comes to such seasons.
Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors was the most recent player to pull off the feat. He has earned two regular season MVPs and four NBA championships in his storied career, but the 2014-15 season was the only one in which he double-dipped.
Here’s a full breakdown of the players to win a championship and be named regular season MVP in the same season:
- Bob Cousy (1956-57)
- Bill Russell (1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63, 1964-65)
- Wilt Chamberlain (1966-67)
- Willis Reed (1969-70)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-71, 1979-80)
- Moses Malone (1982-83)
- Larry Bird (1983-84, 1985-86)
- Magic Johnson (1986-87)
- Michael Jordan (1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98)
- Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94)
- Shaquille O’Neal (1999-00)
- Tim Duncan (2002-03)
- LeBron James (2011-12, 2012-13)
- Steph Curry (2014-15)
NBA MVPs to be named NBA Finals MVP in the same season
Of the 14 players to win a championship and be named regular season MVP in the same year, 10 of them pulled off a trifecta by earning NBA Finals MVP honors:
- Willis Reed (1969-70)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-71)
- Moses Malone (1982-83)
- Larry Bird (1983-84, 1985-86)
- Magic Johnson (1986-87)
- Michael Jordan (1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98)
- Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94)
- Shaquille O’Neal (1999-00)
- Tim Duncan (2002-03)
- LeBron James (2011-12, 2012-13)
NBA Finals MVP was not created until the 1968-69 season, so Cousy, Russell and Chamberlain did not have a chance to add it to their trophy collections.
Magic Johnson was named NBA Finals MVP in 1980 after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned regular season MVP honors, while Andre Iguodala was named NBA Finals MVP when Curry and the Warriors won the 2015 Finals.
NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looking to join Hall of Fame company in 2025 Finals
NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looking to join Hall of Fame company in 2025 Finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has already taken home the NBA’s highest individual honor this season. Now, he’s four wins away from earning the league’s most coveted team prize.
The Thunder point guard has his team on the verge of its first championship since relocating to Oklahoma City and the franchise’s first since winning it all as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1978-79. To get there, the top-seeded Thunder will need to defeat the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals, which begin Thursday in OKC.
Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA MVP for the 2024-25 season after leading the league in scoring (32.7 points per game) and guiding the Thunder to an NBA-best and franchise-best 68-14 regular season record. While being named MVP is an impressive feat, it doesn’t always lead to team success.
It’s been a decade since the regular season MVP has gone on to win an NBA championship. Only a select group of all-time greats have ever pulled it off, and Gilgeous-Alexander is on the verge of stepping into that Hall of Fame company.
Here’s a look back at all the regular season MVPs who went on to win an NBA championship, as well as those who also collected NBA Finals MVP honors.
Players to win NBA Finals and be named MVP in the same season
Fourteen players in NBA history have won a championship and been named league MVP in the same season.
Bob Cousy of the Boston Celtics was the first to do it back in 1956-57. Fellow Celtics legend Bill Russell followed suit in 1960-61 and went on to do it a grand total of four times. Only Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan has matched Russell when it comes to such seasons.
Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors was the most recent player to pull off the feat. He has earned two regular season MVPs and four NBA championships in his storied career, but the 2014-15 season was the only one in which he double-dipped.
Here’s a full breakdown of the players to win a championship and be named regular season MVP in the same season:
- Bob Cousy (1956-57)
- Bill Russell (1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63, 1964-65)
- Wilt Chamberlain (1966-67)
- Willis Reed (1969-70)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-71, 1979-80)
- Moses Malone (1982-83)
- Larry Bird (1983-84, 1985-86)
- Magic Johnson (1986-87)
- Michael Jordan (1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98)
- Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94)
- Shaquille O’Neal (1999-00)
- Tim Duncan (2002-03)
- LeBron James (2011-12, 2012-13)
- Steph Curry (2014-15)
NBA MVPs to be named NBA Finals MVP in the same season
Of the 14 players to win a championship and be named regular season MVP in the same year, 10 of them pulled off a trifecta by earning NBA Finals MVP honors:
- Willis Reed (1969-70)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-71)
- Moses Malone (1982-83)
- Larry Bird (1983-84, 1985-86)
- Magic Johnson (1986-87)
- Michael Jordan (1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98)
- Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94)
- Shaquille O’Neal (1999-00)
- Tim Duncan (2002-03)
- LeBron James (2011-12, 2012-13)
NBA Finals MVP was not created until the 1968-69 season, so Cousy, Russell and Chamberlain did not have a chance to add it to their trophy collections.
Magic Johnson was named NBA Finals MVP in 1980 after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned regular season MVP honors, while Andre Iguodala was named NBA Finals MVP when Curry and the Warriors won the 2015 Finals.
Phillies Talk podcast: Bryce Harper's return on the horizon
Phillies Talk podcast: Bryce Harper's return on the horizon originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Phillies are in Toronto for a three-game series with the Blue Jays and Bryce Harper’s return from a right elbow injury is on the horizon.
Corey Seidman and Spencer McKercher discuss Harper’s imminent return, the Phils’ rotation shakeup and more on the Phillies Talk podcast.
0:00 – Bryce Harper’s return imminent after Phillies swept by Brewers
6:12 – Rotation gets shaken up, Mick Abel slated to make his second career start on Wednesday
13:17 – Phillies and fans hoping Jesús Luzardo’s start vs. Brewers was just one bad start.
18:50 – Andrew Painter’s role once he makes big league debut
23:30 – Phillies fans clamoring for Justin Crawford to be called up
28:41 – Happy Junebarian! Kyle Schwarber looking to stay hot at the plate
32:39 – Is Zack Wheeler a Hall of Famer?
ICYMI in Mets Land: Sean Manaea injury update; top prospect buzz
Here's what happened in Mets Land on Monday, in case you missed it...
- The Mets pulled out a gutsy, 4-3 win over the Dodgers in 10 innings as they opened a road trip in Los Angeles
- Mark Vientossuffered a hamstring injury late during Monday's game, and is undergoing tests to determine the severity
- Paul Blackburnwas stellar in his season debut as he tossed five scoreless innings
- Sean Manaea's rehab assignment could be imminent
- Fast-rising Mets prospect Jonah Tong is dominating and refining his arsenal as he works toward his big league debut
- WATCH: Carlos Mendoza discussed Vientos' injury, Blackburn's performance, and more
Former First-Rounder Rasmus Kupari Signs In Switzerland
Finnish forward Rasmus Kupari, 25, has signed a two-year contract with HC Lugano, the National League club announced on Tuesday.
“I think Lugano is the ideal place to take the next step in my career,” Kupari is quoted. “I want to be a leader on and off the ice and bring my game to the entire rink, both defensively and offensively. I think my most important skill is skating.”
“Rasmus has played his last five seasons in the NHL and AHL,” said Lugano GM Janick Steinmann. “He’s a first-line forward, a good skater with important attributes in every area of the rink. In North America, he has often been assigned more defensive roles, but with us, he will be able to assert his skills as more of a two-way player. I am convinced that he will adapt very well to the National League and have a strong impact offensively. I am extremely happy to have him with us in Lugano and to be able to observe all his potential.”
Kupari hails from Kotka, Finland, and turned pro with the Kärpät club in Oulu at age 17. He recorded 52 points in 104 Liiga regular-season and playoff games.
Kupari was picked 20th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Despite this, he never played more than 66 NHL games in a season or recorded more than 15 points. Between 2020 and 2025, Kupari played in 217 regular-season games, scoring 14 goals and adding 24 assists for 38 points with 52 penalty minutes for the Kings and Winnipeg Jets. He also played 11 playoff games for Los Angeles, where he was held without a point.
Internationally, Kupari played in three IIHF World Junior Championships, playing a large part in Finland’s gold-medal win in 2019 with five points in seven games and scoring the winning goal in the final, but getting injured in the first game of the 2020 tournament.
Kupari joins a Lugano team that is trying to rebuild its roster after missing the playoffs last season.
Photo © Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images
Lugano Dismisses Coach Krupp And Several Noteworthy Players
Just
days after the team saved its position in Switzerland’s
National League by defeating HC Ajoie in a playout
series, HC Lugano parted ways with head coach Uwe Krupp and several
notable players, including goaltender
Adam
Húska,
defenseman Valtteri
Pulli, and forwards Mark Arcobello, Daniel Carr, Radim
Zohorna and Aleksi Peltonen. Reliever reunions in Toronto as Phillies' bullpen tries to figure it out
Reliever reunions in Toronto as Phillies' bullpen tries to figure it out originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Jeff Hoffman ended April with a 1.17 ERA while Jordan Romano’s sat at 12.19, facts that were difficult for many Phillies fans to wrap their heads around after the Phils seemed to deprioritize Hoffman over the winter.
The Phils had interest in a Hoffman reunion but this past offseason was the 32-year-old’s one chance for a lucrative long-term contract. He sought more than some teams were initially willing to offer. The Blue Jays actually weren’t even the first or second team he agreed to sign with — the Orioles backed out of a three-year, $40 million contract for Hoffman because of shoulder issues found in his physical, and the Braves also backed off a reported five-year deal for Hoffman worth $40-45 million.
He ended up signing with Toronto for $33 million over three years.
Hoffman’s first month with the Jays looked similar to his dominant 2024 regular season with the Phillies. Through May 2, he’d saved seven games and finished 13, struck out 23 and walked two. He also earned three wins in April, pitching two scoreless innings in three different extra-inning games.
Things have since gone mostly downhill for Hoffman and his last month has been every bit as rocky as Romano’s first with the Phillies.
Over his last 10 innings, Hoffman has allowed 15 earned runs and five homers. He enters the series with a 5.81 ERA overall, not too far off Romano’s 7.36.
Romano was drafted by the Blue Jays in 2014, came up with them in 2019 and was their closer from 2021-24. This will also be a reunion for him, his first trip back to Rogers Centre.
The Phillies arrived in Toronto with a shaky bullpen picture. Since Jose Alvarado’s 80-game suspension came down on May 18, Phillies relievers have a 4.62 ERA and have allowed more baserunners per inning (1.62) than every team in baseball except the Athletics.
Romano has been more reliable than he was in April but has had inconsistent fastball velocity and slider command. Matt Strahm’s opponents have hit .313 dating back to April 15. Orion Kerkering has been solid of late but was unable to work around bad defense on Sunday, snapping a string of nine straight scoreless outings.
The Phillies’ bullpen gained another arm over the weekend in Taijuan Walker, who will pitch in relief the rest of the season even if an injury arises in the rotation. The Phils don’t want to continue shifting Walker back and forth. Maybe his stuff will frequently play up in one-inning stints. He plans to still utilize five pitches and feels good about a new slider with more horizontal movement. It’s worth checking out and can’t hurt.
The Phils are desperate right now to find another reliable leverage reliever. Having only three hurts because pitching Kerkering, Strahm and Romano 4-5 times a week apiece is a recipe for burnout. But the trade deadline (July 31) is still more than eight weeks away and you’re not acquiring a top-end reliever this early unless you bowl a team over in an overpay.
This current unit, which now includes Walker and Seth Johnson, will have to stem the tide until trade season actually begins. If/when the Phillies see Hoffman this week, it will be a reminder of the bullpen depth they had last summer. The Phillies went five deep in high-leverage arms for most of the second half with Hoffman, Strahm, Kerkering, Alvarado and Carlos Estevez. It wasn’t too long ago this part of the team was regarded as a strength. Dave Dombrowski will almost certainly address it with one or two moves before July 31, but in the meantime, it’s on Romano, Strahm and Kerkering to get the job done as the late-inning triumvirate with more needed out of pitchers like Tanner Banks, Joe Ross and Walker.
Bakersfield Condors Forward Drake Caggiula Signs In Switzerland
Bakersfield Condors forward Drake Caggiula has signed a one-year deal in Switzerland with Lausanne HC, it was announced Monday.
Hailing from Pickering, Ont., Caggiula split time this season between the Condors and the Edmonton Oilers. Over seven NHL games, Caggiula collected an assist while putting up 24 goals and 28 assists for 52 points in 62 regular season games with Bakersfield.
Having signed with Edmonton as an undrafted free agent, Caggiula has played in 289 career NHL regular season games with the Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. In that time, he scored 46 goals and added 46 assists for 92 points.
With Caggiula heading overseas for the first time in his career, he will factor heavily into Lausanne's plans and be an important player for them. While he has struggled to hold down a consistent NHL role over the past few years, Caggiula has proven his value before and could get another look next summer if he is looking to return to the NHL.
Marks shares harsh truth behind Warriors' potential Giannis trade
Marks shares harsh truth behind Warriors' potential Giannis trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
So, you’re telling us there’s a chance …
The Warriors trading for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer is not likely, but certainly not impossible.
It’s unclear whether Antetokounmpo, who reportedly met with the Bucks to discuss his and the team’s future, will request a trade out of Milwaukee, but if he does want to play elsewhere, Golden State could be an intriguing destination for the nine-time NBA All-Star and two-time MVP.
However, the Warriors, as ESPN’s Bobby Marks outlined Tuesday on “Get Up,” would have to part with, at least, one of Jimmy Butler ($54.1 million in 2025-26) or Draymond Green’s ($25.8 million) contracts in a potential trade package to make Antetokounmpo’s $51.9 million figure work alongside Steph Curry’s whopping $59.6 million contract.
“How it would happen is you’re likely trading Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green in a trade,” Marks said. “That’s how it happens. There’s not a scenario where you can fit Giannis and also keep the other three players there.”
Former NBA guard and “Get Up” analyst Jay Williams wouldn’t hesitate to part ways with either if he were in Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy’s shoes.
“Well, Bobby, I would say this: ‘Thank you for your service, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler. Thank you for being part of our team. Bye bye.'” Williams said in response to Marks.
While acquiring Antetokounmpo would result in the Warriors parting ways with either a franchise icon in Green or a bona fide star in Butler, Williams believes the seismic move would allow the Warriors to keep their championship window open throughout the remaining years of Curry’s career.
“If you’re Golden State, if you’re Mike Dunleavy here, you go big-fish hunting,” Williams added. “Giannis is a perfect fit there in the Bay Area. I know the West is absolutely loaded, but just think about the fit that Steph Curry would be able to have with Giannis and how compatible those two would be together.
“And if there’s one way you can send off Steph Curry off into the sunset on the horse, that’s with Giannis.”
Much easier said than done, of course.
Celtics Player Spotlight: Why re-signing Luke Kornet should be a priority
Celtics Player Spotlight: Why re-signing Luke Kornet should be a priority originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics acquired Luke Kornet in a trade with the Chicago Bulls in 2021. Four years later, he’s now one of the team’s most important bench players, so much so that re-signing him in the offseason should be a priority for president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and his front office staff.
“Luke is one of the best teammates that you can have,” Jayson Tatum told reporters on Feb. 12. “An extremely selfless guy. Always talking, never has a bad day.”
In addition to his qualities as a teammate, Kornet is a valuable big man who can score in the paint, grab rebounds and defend the rim. He understands his role and plays it very well.
Kornet will be a free agent this summer. What does his future hold in Boston?
As we continue our “Celtics Player Spotlight” series, let’s recap Kornet’s 2024-25 season and analyze how he fits into Boston’s lineup for 2025-26:
2024-25 Season Recap
Kornet was a very useful center off the bench. He doesn’t stretch the floor as an outside shooter, but he’s very effective on lobs at the basket and has good touch around the rim. He averaged 6.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocks per game, while shooting 66.8 percent from the floor this past season.
Kornet saw action in all 11 of Boston’s playoff games, including an excellent performance in Game 5 against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals during which he scored 10 points with nine rebounds and seven blocks in a 127-102 win.
Kornet’s ability to set good screens and roll to the basket also was quite impressive. In fact, the Tatum/Kornet pick-and-roll combo was among the most effective in basketball. These stats below — from March 21 — are pretty interesting:
Kornet ended up leading the Celtics in both offensive rating (121.2) and net rating (14.9) during the regular season.
Contract details
Kornet’s one-year deal worth $2.8 million is about to expire, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Potential roles for 2025-26
Scenario 1: Kornet re-signs, continues to play reserve center role
Kornet played his role at a high level this past season. He played a career-high 18.6 minutes per game and averaged more points and rebounds than any of his other seasons in Boston. He’s also been pretty durable, having played in 73 games this past season, 63 in 2023-24 and 69 in 2022-23.
ESPN introduced a new metric called “net points” this season. It tries to highlight players most directly contributing to their team’s point differential. Kornet ranked 16th in the entire league in net points, ahead of James Harden (17th), Jimmy Butler (18th) and LeBron James (19th). Kornet finished tied for 12th in defensive net points. It’s only one stat, and he’s obviously not better than Harden, Butler or James, but it does show that Kornet makes a very real (and quantifiable) impact on Boston’s success.
Scenario 2: Kornet departs in free agency; Celtics have to replace him
Kornet’s value in free agency might never be higher than this summer. He has proven to be an effective big man off the bench for a championship-caliber team. Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers that desperately need a center would be wise to make a pitch to Kornet if he hits the open market.
The Celtcs have an expensive roster, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they tried to shed salary in the offseason. They also must work under the constraints of being a team in the second apron. Can they afford to bring back both Kornet and Al Horford? Would one or both need to take a cheap, team-friendly deal for that to happen?
Kornet is a fan favorite in Boston, and the Celtics should try very hard to re-sign him. But he might be able to get more money and a larger role with another team.
Final thoughts
Kornet’s steady improvement with the Celtics has been impressive. His minutes and points per game have increased in each of the last three seasons. He’s a good defensive player, he’s effective in pick-and-rolls, his teammates love him, etc. He’s an ideal backup center.
Losing him in free agency wouldn’t be a massive blow to the Celtics roster, but it would definitely be a setback. The Celtics had a .750 win percentage (21-7 record) in the regular season when Kornet played 20-plus minutes. He makes a strong contribution to winning. Those players are not very easy to find.
Knicks fire head coach Tom Thibodeau after their best season in 25 years
Knicks fire head coach Tom Thibodeau after their best season in 25 years originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Knicks are parting ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau, who led New York to their first Eastern Conference finals in decades and four playoffs in five years, the team announced Tuesday.
ESPN Insider Shams Charania first reported the news on X. The team issued a statement from Knicks president Leon Rose confirming the development a short time later.
“Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans. This pursuit led us to the difficult decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we’ve decided to move in another direction,” the statement began. “We can’t thank Tom enough for pouring his heart and soul into each and every day of being the New York Knicks head coach. He led us not only with class and professionalism for the past five seasons, but also to tremendous success on the court with four playoff berths and four playoff series victories.”
“Ultimately, we made the decision we feel is best for our organization moving forward,” it continued. “Tom will always be a part of our Knicks family and we truly wish him nothing but the best in the future.”
The Knicks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, leaving them without a championship since 1973. The team went further than they’d gone in 25 years, just not as far as they hoped.
They signaled they were serious about making a run at the NBA title when they traded for Mikal Bridges in the summer and then Karl-Anthony Towns in a preseason blockbuster, adding a top perimeter defender and an All-Star center to a lineup headlined by Jalen Brunson.
Their all-in moves just couldn’t get them all the way there.
After Boston rolled to the 2024 title and brought back all its key players, the Celtics were viewed as strong favorites in the East. Yet after building gradually since Rose’s arrival as team president in 2020, the Knicks weren’t conceding anything to the champions.
They re-signed OG Anunoby to the largest contract in team history, then traded five first-round picks in the deal to acquire Bridges from Brooklyn. Just as they were set to begin training camp, the Knicks dealt two starters in All-Star Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, who had just set their single-season 3-point record, to get Towns from Minnesota.
The moves made the Knicks good enough to get past the Celtics in the second round. But it turned out to not be the right roster against the deep and speedy Pacers, who knocked them out for the second straight season.
“You make the moves to win, so it hurts to not be able to bring an opportunity to the city for a championship,” Towns said. “We’ve got a bunch of great guys in that locker room and the plan now is just to put ourselves in this position again and succeed next time.”
First, Rose and the front office will have to evaluate just how close the Knicks really are.
Their 51-31 record left them a distant third in the East behind Cleveland and Boston, and they went a combined 0-8 against those teams in the regular season before they finished off the Celtics in the second round after Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon in Game 4.
With two All-NBA selections in Brunson and Towns, the starting lineup is one of the NBA’s strongest. The bench could use a boost, as the Knicks lack the solid depth of the Cavaliers and Celtics — and certainly of the Pacers.
Still, after being mostly miles away for two decades, the Knicks have turned themselves into a contender. They have won 50 games in back-to-back seasons and made the playoffs in four of five under Thibodeau. Even after Saturday’s defeat, there was belief that the Knicks will get another shot soon.
Ex-NHLer Drake Gaggiula Signs In Switzerland
Canadian forward Drake Caggiula, who turns 31 on June 20, has signed a one-year contract with Lausanne HC, the National League club announced on Monday.
“We are very pleased to welcome Drake to Lausanne,” said club sports director John Fust. “He is an experienced player with a solid track record in North America. Beyond his offensive skills and intensity on the ice, he will bring true leadership to the locker room.”
Caggiula, who hails from Pickering, Ont and played four seasons for the University of North Dakota, was never drafted by an NHL team and signed as a free agent with the Edmonton Oilers in 2016.
Between 2016 and 2025, Caggiula played 289 NHL regular-season games with the Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins, recording 92 points and 141 penalty minutes. He also played 21 playoff games with Edmonton and Chicago, registering six points and 27 penalty minutes.
Last season, he played seven NHL games in his second tour of duty with Edmonton and spent the rest of the season with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors.
Danish Ex-Oiler Signs In Germany
Danish forward Patrick Russell, 32, has signed a contract to play
with Kölner Haie, the DEL club announced on
Friday. Terms of the agreement were not specified.
This is Caggiula’s first tour of duty in Europe. He joins a Lausanne team that has been one of Switzerland’s best the past few years and wants to win a title this year under reigning coach of the year Geoff Ward. Last season the team finished first in the regular season and has lost in the finals each of the past two seasons to the ZSC Lions.
In addition to Caggiula, Lausanne has under contract for 2025-26 goaltenders Connor Hughes and Antoine Keller, as well as Swedish defenseman Erik Brännström, American Austin Czarnik, German Dominik Kahun, and Finns Janne Kuokkanen, and Antti Suomela, Lauri Pajuniemi and Sami Niku.
Photo © Sergei Belski-Imagn Images: Drake Caggiula playing for the Edmonton Oilers in the 2024 pre-season.
Erik Brännström Signs Multi-Year Deal In Switzerland
Swedish defenseman Erik Brännström, 25, has signed a three-year
contract with Lausanne HC, the National League club announced on
Monday.
What are Giants' expectations for Encarnacion after return to lineup?
What are Giants' expectations for Encarnacion after return to lineup? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — When Jerar Encarnación was lining balls all around Scottsdale Stadium this spring, he never could have imagined his 2025 debut coming with these kinds of expectations.
Encarnación is a 27-year-old with just 58 big-league appearances and a .639 OPS over that time, but for several weeks, his activation from the injured list has been viewed by many as a potential game-changer for a lineup that’s in a deep slump. That’s not totally fair to Encarnación, but the bar he’ll need to jump over initially to provide a spark is basically sitting on the floor.
At the time he was activated, the Giants ranked 28th in MLB in OPS at first base. They had gotten a .185 average and just four homers out of the position through 200 at-bats.
On Monday, LaMonte Wade Jr. got his 41st start at first this season, but he was removed early in the loss with a wrist contusion after getting hit by a pitch. The Giants view Wade as day-to-day, but many of those at-bats at first were about to go to Encarnación, anyway.
Even with Wade out, Encarnación’s debut came in the outfield. He hit for right fielder Mike Yastrzemski with the go-ahead run on second in the sixth inning after the Padres turned to left-handed reliever Adrian Morejon, but his first at-bat of the year ended with a grounder to short. With a runner on second in the eighth, Encarnación struck out.
Through those first two at-bats, Encarnación looked like someone who could have used a few more rehab games. But in the bottom of the 10th, he hit a 101 mph liner to first off San Diego Padres closer Robert Suarez. The ball found first baseman Luis Arraez’s glove, ending the game, but it was a good cut at a 102 mph sinker.
“After making a couple outs, to put together an at-bat like that against that guy — it looked like he was more comfortable as the game went along,” manager Bob Melvin said.
Even if Encarnación simply matches his modest 2024 Giants debut — a .702 OPS and five homers in 35 appearances — the lineup will get a much-needed boost.
“We know he can give us some power, he’s got power to all fields,” Melvin said. “We saw it at the end of last year. We saw it in spring training. When we were about to leave spring training, there were going to be a lot of at-bats for him. Obviously what (Wilmer Flores) has done has been off the charts and we’re cognizant of that, but with the potential that he gives us and the lack of power we’re getting right now, he’s going to get some opportunities, and we feel good about how he can produce for us.”
Encarnación had a good spring and pretty quickly became a lock for the Opening Day roster, with the initial expectation being that he would split DH at-bats with Flores, who was coming off surgery. But Encarnación ended up having his own procedure after fracturing his left hand late in camp, and late in the rehab process he felt some lingering soreness.
The Giants put Encarnación on the 60-day IL and initially hoped to get him back when eligible on May 26, but he needed a few extra days after halting his rehab assignment. He said Monday that his hand now feels normal.
Over the weekend, Encarnación returned to Triple-A Sacramento, where he was 8-for-23 with two homers and two doubles in seven rehab appearances. He primarily has been a corner outfielder as a professional, but the Giants will figure out his role as they go.
Wade has had a brutal first two months, and his slump goes back to the second half of last season. Even with four right-handers on the other side in this series, Encarnación was expected to start mixing in at first. He also will play right field against some left-handers, spelling Yastrzemski, who had a rough May at the plate.
The Giants prefer to keep Flores in his spot; he has thrived as a full-time DH and there’s a fear that his body will wear down if asked to play first base too often. But they also haven’t seen a whole lot of Encarnación defensively at first, and it’s possible that over time it becomes clear that he’s better suited to DH, with Flores at first.
For now, the focus is on the bat, and there’s a lot of potential there. The overall numbers don’t jump off the page, but Encarnación would have been among the league leaders in expected batting average, hard-hit percentage, bat speed and other advanced metrics last season had he gotten enough plate appearances to qualify.
Among players with at least 50 balls in play last season, Encarnación ranked fourth in average exit velocity, behind Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani and Oneil Cruz, and one spot ahead of Giancarlo Stanton. The Giants need more of that. They need more of anything resembling offensive production, really, and they’re hopeful that Encarnación can at least nudge them in the right direction.
On Monday afternoon, as he prepared for his first game of the year, Encarnación said he was simply happy to be healthy and back with his teammates. If there is pressure to help pull the lineup out of this rut, he’s not feeling it.
“Not at all,” he said. “I’m just going to do what I’m able to do and try to contribute to the team. Whatever happens is in God’s hands.”
NHL Draft 2025: Flyers Won't Guarantee a Top Center This Year
If you want the Philadelphia Flyers to draft the No. 1 center of their future with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, you've already been warned not to get your hopes up.
Wisely, some might say, the Flyers are keeping their options open ahead of the draft later this month. After all, it was only a year ago that the decision to trade down and pass on Zeev Buium to select Jett Luchanko tore through the fanbase like wildfire.
When the Flyers did so, they chose need over value. This was publicly communicated beforehand, as GM Danny Briere suggested they would take a center if a center and a defenseman were tied in rank on their draft boards.
Now, the Flyers are indicating the opposite with four weeks to go before the draft.
“We obviously are aware," Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said of the talent issue at center, as quoted by Kevin Kurz of The Athletic. "But there’s also a couple other players that it’s going to make it hard. There’s a couple wingers, and even a defenseman, that could be in the mix. You’ve got to be careful not to go by a top line player potentially, just for position. That’s the challenge we’ll face."
Flahr and the Flyers have been earmarked to draft a center with their top draft pick for months now, with top options comprised of the likes of James Hagens, Michael Misa, Anton Frondell, Caleb Desnoyers, Jake O'Brien, Roger McQueen, and Brady Martin.
The fact that Flahr is already willing to look past a glaring need at the position suggests there are multiple centers on that list who are quite low on their draft boards relative to the consensus.
Flyers Trade Rumors: Wild 'Not Dying' to Deal Marco Rossi AwayRecent reports have connected the Philadelphia Flyers to trade discussions with the Minnesota Wild regarding free agent center Marco Rossi, but there is no serious progress made by the Flyers, or any other NHL team, on that front... yet.
McQueen, for example, has struggled with back issues, and teams will be eager to test him out at the NHL combine and get a better feel for his health going forward now that he's been cleared for testing.
On the flanks and on the back end, the Flyers could very well still find some studs. A "couple wingers" likely refers to Swede Victor Eklund, the younger brother of William Eklund, and Canadian Porter Martone, who has drawn some stylistic comparisons to Matvei Michkov.
The mention of a defenseman could just be Flahr being coy about Matthew Schaefer, who is generally considered to be the premier player in this class but could be available if the Flyers trade up with the San Jose Sharks to acquire the No. 2 pick, as some rumors have previously suggested.
Some mock drafts, including one from NHL.com, have connected Barrie Colts defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson to the Flyers at No. 6, but more realistic options at that draft slot include the smooth-skating, 6-foot-3 Jackson Smith or the towering, two-way giant in the 6-foot-6 Radim Mrtka.
After losing three recently drafted defense prospects, including two from the 2023 draft, the Flyers are badly hurting for some young defensemen in their system, even after selecting Spencer Gill and Austin Moline in 2024.
Is that reason enough to potentially pass on the No. 1 center of your future? For the Flyers, it's at least on the table after last year's controversy.